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Friday, May 1, 2009

Rome wasn't toured in a day

What wonders were still awaiting the mystery ladies and their camera? They were certainly busy. I keep wondering where they ate. Were there restaurants? Were they staying with family or friends? Were they highly ranked enough to reside with royalty? Was there royalty in Italy? Or did they rent a villa and hire a local woman to cook and take care of them during their visit?

Could they be strolling the grounds of their temporary residence?

 
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First stop on the tour bus is Castel Sant'Angelo or Hadrian's Mausoleum.

 


St. Peter's Basilica, of course named for the first Apostle and the first Pope and leader of the Church.

 


The Pyramid of Gaius Cestius (some sources have it spelled Caius Cestius)

 


The legendary tombstone of English poet, John Keats, in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome. The inscription reads:

This Grave
contains all that was Mortal
of a
Young English Poet
Who
on his Death Bed
in the bitterness of his Heart
at the Malicious Power of his Enemies
Desired
these Words to be engraved on his TombStone

"Here lies One
Whose Name was writ in Water"

Feb 24 1821


 
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And finally, the piece de resistance, the Trevi Fountain, made famous by three movies...La Dolce Vita, Three Coins in the Fountain and Roman Holiday.

 


And a little treat for the eyes, courtesy of the great Anita Ekberg.



The lovely Dorothy McGuire and Jean Peters.



I couldn't find a scene with the Trevi, but here are Audrey and Gregory at Piazza di Spagna.



Tomorrow the mystery ladies will take to the waterways in a gondola.

20 comments:

Char said...

loving this series!!

Susan said...

Thank you, Char! I just hope my carpal tunnel loves it when I'm through! I had no idea what most of these pictures were, so I had to research each and every one. I spent the entire first day on the computer researching and trying to upload them, which wasn't easy as they were still in the album.

VioletSky said...

Ah, I was going to ask if you'd been to Rome and were familiar with what these were photos of. What a lot of research you've had to do!

I thoroughly enjoyed that trailer for Three Coins in a Fountain!!

alaine@éclectique said...

Susan, I'm loving this story. Hubby and I were in Rome for 4 days in 2007 and crammed so much in - I've been to all these places and they still look the same as the black and whites. We stayed in a hotel just down from the Spanish Steps.

I'm going back to watch your videos.

We share carpal tunnel....grrrr, it's annoying! LBx

Sandy Nawrot said...

These ladies must have been pretty well off, don't you think? They are dressed pretty nice, and this is a whopper of a trip. Not something just anyone would be able to afford to take, even today!

Susan said...

Sanna, I so wish I had been to all those places.....someday! Yes, my hand and wrist are feeling the effects of mouse-gripping posting. I think I'll take a break when I finish this series. Um, probably not. :)

Susan said...

Coccinella (Ladybug), thank you so much and welcome! You're my first Aussie! Oh, I so envy the fact that you have seen all these beautiful places! And it is gratifying to know that they still look the same.

There are a lot of us bloggers, it seems, with carpal tunnel. I won't let it stop me from doing what I love though!

I loved your blog and will be back to visit and read. :)

Susan said...

Sandy, I'm pretty sure you are right...they must have had quite a bit of money. And we're only halfway through the trip!

Cindy said...

I'm looking forward to following these ladies on their adventures! How fun and what great blog posts. Italy is high on my list of places to visit. I have the charming villa where I want to stay bookmarked, so I can book it one of these days.

Federico Fellini movies are some of my favorites, as well as anything with Audrey Hepburn. Haven't seen Three Coins in the Fountain. I'll have to see if it's available on Apple TV.

I'm a bit behind in my blog comments lately, but I haven't stopped reading yours. I really enjoyed the story about your trip to visit Ruth! You guys make me smile!

Susan said...

Thank you, Cindy! It makes me happy to make you smile!

Audrey Hepburn! I love her so much! I've never seen her be anything but excellent. To me, she was the ultimate mystery lady!

I wasn't worried about you not stopping by. Figured you were pretty busy. I'm glad you're back!

Ruth said...

My connection didn't cooperate, and I couldn't watch the videos, but I've seen them before. Still, I wanted to see them again with your post.

I was struck by Keats' headstone inscription - sad. I didn't realize he felt that way - but I haven't read his bio. I'm a bad English major.

I spent one afternoon in Rome, on my way to the airport. It was pitiful, and I resent only 30 minutes in the Sistine Chapel. Didn't see the Trevi fountain either. Have to go back is all!

Susan said...

Ruth, I'm sure many trips to Rome and you would still not see everything!

It is sad that Keats died so young from tuberculosis and was bitter that his poetry had not been well received by critics.

See, if you had thrown a coin in the Trevi, you would return to Rome someday!

alaine@éclectique said...

I'm back again. I watched the videos and must search around for them. I wonder if they've been put on DVD yet? I don't have a library of films but I'd love to have them.

It was odd seeing the buses, bikes and cars whizzing by them at the Spanish Steps. They've stopped all that now; only the horse-drawn carriages and the odd delivery van are allowed.

Oh, and I DID toss a coin into the Trevi and it looks as though we're returning next year!

Sandy Nawrot said...

I had to come back and tell you this. Dar at Peeking Between the Pages just reviewed a book called "The Red Leather Diary" that so much reminded me of your photos. Go check out the review, and you'll see why I feel you need to pursue this!

Susan said...

Coccinella, that is so interesting! Just like the U.S. We used to be able to drive right by the gates of the White House and of course, that is no more.

Roman Holiday is my favorite of the three. It has two of my favorite actors of all time, Audrey and Gregory. I would watch and listen to them read the phone book!

Susan said...

Sandy, I just had that book on hold at the library and had to let it go back, because I hadn't finished the one I'm currently reading, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. As soon as I finish it, I'm going to request it again. Of course, by that time it will probably be on a wait list. Didn't I read that review on your blog?

Seriously? I don't know the first thing about writing a book!

California Girl said...

you're throwing everything at us! I'm spending alotta time here!

I've viewed "La Dolce Vita" clip because I've never seen the movie.

I'm now about to rummage through your bookshelf.

Susan said...

Cali Girl, sorry I didn't realize you had left a comment. Hey, I took a little break today, thanks to you.

Feel free to check out any of my books!

Dutchbaby said...

Ah Rome! What a fantastic city! These ladies were definitely not there in summertime. The middle clip has been revoked but I loved watching the other two. Trevi Fountain was one of my most indelible memories of Rome. When we unexpectantly stumbled upon this magnificent fountain after turning a corner from a narrow alley, it took our breath away! We quickly took some coins out of our purses and tossed it over our shoulder. We're going back - oh yeah!

Susan said...

dutchbaby, how I long to throw a few coins into the Trevi! I want that to be the first of many times!